Cessna 340A accident near Poplar Bluff, Missouri, November 24, 2003
On November 24, 2003 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Cessna 340A, registered N200GC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Poplar Bluff, Missouri (Poplar Bluff Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure to maintain directional control during landing. Collapse of the nose landing gear, the muddy grass/turf and the berm were contributing factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 24, 2003 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Poplar Bluff, Missouri · Poplar Bluff Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340A · all 340As on the register
- Registration
- N200GC · registry record · serial 340A0503
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The twin-engine airplane was substantially damaged when it departed runway 36 during landing. The nose landing gear collapsed when the aircraft encountered soft, muddy turf adjacent to the runway and subsequently impacted a berm. The pilot reported that everything was normal throughout the flight until short final, just prior to touchdown. He stated that winds were from 320 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot reported that when he attempted to align the nose of the aircraft with the runway for touchdown, he had no right rudder control. He stated: "I observed that the right rudder pedal was fully deflected to the right. I tried to get it loose or back to the normal position with my foot to no avail." After touchdown the aircraft "veered" to the left. Attempts to correct to the right were unsuccessful. The pilot noted, "I tried using differential power to maintain runway alignment but was unable. At this point, I reduced power back to the stops/idle, trying to maneuver the aircraft the best I could. During this time I had no right rudder control. Once the aircraft [came] to a complete stop, it was shut down." Post-accident inspection confirmed rudder control continuity and brake system integrity. Full rudder travel, without restriction or binding, was observed. Rudder pedal inputs produced a proper, corresponding rudder movement. No anomalies with the nose wheel steering system which could be attributed to a pre-impact malfunction, were observed. The brake system appeared to be intact and to operate normally.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,517 hours in all; 513 in this make and model; 138 in the last 90 days; 52 in the last 30 days; 10,272 as pilot in command; 2,437 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 22, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,441.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 8, 2003; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JEF Jefferson City MO at 1:10 pm
- Destination: POF Poplar Bluff MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36, 5,007 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from POF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.